By Lubem Gena
The Centre for Credible Leadership and Citizens Awareness, a coalition of civil rights organisations, has defended the Edo State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Hon. Jarrett Tenebe, against allegations that his recent comments at a political rally promoted violence ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The Centre, while expressing grave concern over what it described as the growing weaponisation of Nigerian politics, said Tenebe’s remarks had been taken out of context and should not be equated with the alleged physical display or proliferation of firearms at political gatherings in some parts of the country.
Addressing a world press conference, the Convener of the Centre, Nwambu Gabriel, Ph.D., said the coalition was particularly worried by what it described as rising political intolerance, intimidation, inflammatory rhetoric and the proliferation of firearms ahead of the 2027 elections.
It, however, drew a distinction between the use of force or firearms to intimidate voters and what it described as Tenebe’s metaphorical reference to “gunfire” in the context of spiritual strength, peaceful political mobilisation and the protection of the electoral process.
According to the Centre, Tenebe had, in one of the videos reviewed by the organisation, urged his supporters to rely on prayers and divine protection while calling on security agencies to take charge of any attempt by political actors to unleash violence during the elections.
The coalition further noted that, in another video, the Edo APC chairman invoked the Bible and encouraged voters to hold their Bibles in one hand and their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) in the other, while urging party members to pursue peaceful elections.
The Centre therefore declared that the statements, properly understood within their context, did not amount to a call for violence.
“Unlike the alleged physical brandishing of firearms witnessed in places such as Kano, the Edo State APC Chairman’s message, as we understand it, championed reliance on divine protection, the peaceful power of the ballot represented by the PVC, and the constitutional responsibility of law enforcement agencies to maintain public order,” the statement said.
The group said it consequently exonerated Tenebe from allegations of promoting violence, arguing that his appeal to faith, the rule of law and peaceful civic participation was fundamentally different from the physical intimidation associated with the unlawful possession or display of firearms.
The Centre’s intervention came against the backdrop of what it described as a disturbing national landscape in which political rhetoric, alleged intimidation and reported incidents of violence were increasingly threatening the credibility of the electoral process.
It cited reports and circulating footage from Gwale Local Government Area of Kano State, which it said allegedly showed an NDC House of Assembly candidate, Aminu Abdullahi Warkal, participating in campaign activities while visibly carrying a firearm.
The organisation stressed that any confirmed display or unlawful possession of firearms by political actors must attract the full weight of the law, irrespective of political affiliation.
It also referenced a reported violent disruption of an opposition ward meeting in Obuoffia, Nkanu West Local Government Area of Enugu State, as well as allegations of inflammatory political statements in Ebonyi and Borno states and reported threats against political opponents in the Federal Capital Territory.
The Centre said the cumulative effect of such incidents could create an atmosphere of fear capable of disenfranchising citizens even before they reach the polling units.
It consequently called on the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services (DSS) and other relevant security agencies to urgently disarm political spaces and arrest and prosecute any politician, candidate or political thug found in unlawful possession of firearms.
The Centre also demanded greater neutrality from government officials, protection for opposition parties and an end to the destruction of campaign materials or restrictions on peaceful political gatherings.
The coalition urged security agencies to identify vulnerable areas ahead of the 2027 elections and guarantee citizens the freedom to vote without intimidation.
“Democracy cannot thrive at gunpoint,” the Centre declared, insisting that the 2027 elections must be defined by popular sovereignty and peaceful civic participation rather than violence, intimidation or the activities of political thugs.
The Centre urged Nigerians to approach the coming electoral contest with restraint and vigilance, stressing that the ballot, rather than the bullet, must remain the ultimate instrument of political power in a democracy.
